Independent Health Facilities

What's New

The CPSO has posted the updated CPPs for Pulmonary Function Studies to the CPSO webpage. An email was sent to all IHFs licensed to provide these services on October 17, 2018.

September 21, 2018 – Potential Canada Post Strike

All non-essential mail is currently being held until it is determined whether Canada Post will be going on strike.

If appropriate, the Independent Health Facilities Program (IHFP) will email correspondence to individual IHFs. The original will be mailed following resolution. Inquiries regarding mail related to IHFP licensing activities should be sent to the IHFP generic email address at: IHFP@ontario.ca.

IHFP would invite you to take this opportunity to ensure that our program area has been provided with your current office e-mail address to facilitate any necessary correspondence.

September 19, 2018 – Mandatory Address Reporting for Physicians

The Health Services Branch has issued Bulletin 4715 regarding the mandatory address reporting for physicians. Please see the link to Bulletin 4715 for further details.

The ministry has issued Bulletin 4712 regarding Low Back Pain Imaging Study Payment Requirements. OHIP payment is only authorized for services that are medically necessary to the individual patient’s circumstances.

July 2018 – CPSO Newsletter
The CPSO has a newsletter for physicians who practice in independent health facilities and out of hospital premises. Please read the July 2018 edition.

The ministry has issued Bulletin 2135 regarding requirements for independent health facilities with limiting conditions on their licence pertaining to infertility and amendments to the limiting conditions of the licence.

March 14, 2018 – Assessment Updates - Infection Prevention and Control and Plan of Action

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) has sent a communication to all licensees and quality advisors regarding infection prevention and control (IPAC) in IHFs. Effective immediately all assessments will be conducted using the Public Health Ontario (PHO) checklists. It is recommended that every licensee, in conjunction with the quality advisor, undertake a review of the IPAC requirements and use the checklists available on the PHO webpage to conduct an audit of the IHF.

If you did not receive a copy of the communication you may email the CPSO IHF generic account at: IHF@cpso.on.ca. You may also find a link to the PHO webpage under Resources on this site.

The ministry has launched the interactive telephone enquiry system "CSB Connects" designed to make it easier for health care providers to connect with Claims Services Staff.

January 3, 2018 – Communique regarding the Oversight of Health Facilities and Devices Act, 2017.
On December 12, 2017, Bill 160, the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act , 2017, passed Third Reading and received Royal Assent from the Lieutenant Governor in Council (LGIC). Part of Bill 160 is Schedule 9, the Oversight of Health Facilities and Devices Act (OHFDA) which when proclaimed into effect, will replace the Independent Health Facilities Act.

The Community Health Facilities program, on behalf of Lynn Guerriero, Assistant Deputy Minister, Negotiations and Accountability Management Division, advised all licensees of this via email.

Links to the ministry’s December 12 news release and backgrounder are provided below:

As licensees were advised on December 21, 2017, the date on which the OHFDA may be proclaimed into force is not known, and at present, the Independent Health Facilities Act, its regulations and the ministry’s policies in support of the Independent Health Facilities program remain in effect.

Should you have any questions about the information provided, or if you did not receive this communication please send an email to the Community Health Facilities program at: CHF@ontario.ca.

November 3, 2017 – Email to Licensees regarding Oversight of Health Facilities and Devices Act, 2017.
On November 2, 2017, the Community Health Facilities program sent an email to all IHF licensees on behalf of Pauline Ryan, Director of Health Services Branch, Negotiations and Accountability Management Division.
The email advised licensees that Bill 160, the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act, 2017, passed Second Reading in the Legislature and has been referred to the Standing Committee on General Government.

September 27, 2017 – Email to Licensees regarding Oversight of Health Facilities and Devices Act, 2017.
On September 27, 2017, the Community Health Facilities program sent an email to all IHF licensees on behalf of Pauline Ryan, Director of Health Services, Negotiations and Accountability Management Division. The email advised licensees of the introduction of the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act, 2017 for First Reading in the Legislature by Dr. Eric Hoskins, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

This Act proposes several legislative changes. One of these changes is the proposed Oversight of Health Facilities and Devices Act, 2017 (Schedule 9 of the bill) to oversee community health facilities (CHFs) and energy applying and detecting medical devices (EADMDs).

If you did not receive this communication, or have any questions, please send an email to the Community Health Facilities program at: CHF@ontario.ca. Please see attached a link to the bill and the News Release.

June 23, 2017 – Letter to Licensees regarding Quality of Care Information Protection Act, 2016
On June 23, 2017, the IHF Program sent all licensees a copy of letter from Patrick Dicerni, Assistant Deputy Minister. The letter was advising licensees that the Quality of Care Information Protection Act, 2016 (QCIPA), its supporting regulations, and the amendments to Regulation 965 of the Public Hospitals Act are scheduled to come into force on July 1, 2017. If you did not receive your copy of the letter please send an email to the Independent Health Facilities Program at: IHFP@ontario.ca. Please see attached a link to the legislation. As per the letter, if you have any questions or require further information please contact Sean Court at sean.court@ontario.ca.